Author: David Great

In a firm defense of the proposed tax reform bill, former lawmaker and human rights activist, Senator Shehu Sani has called on Northern governors to rally behind the legislation to address what he describes as “prevailing tax injustice” in Nigeria. Reacting to revelations made by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman before the House of Representatives, Sani highlighted the concentration of Value Added Tax (VAT) revenues in only four states as a significant inequity in the current tax system. According to the FIRS Chairman, Lagos, Rivers, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) collectively generate 70% of VAT revenue…

A monitoring team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was ambushed by Boko Haram insurgents while inspecting the National Grid installation in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. The attack occurred on Monday, in the Farin-Kasa area of Chukun Local Government Area, Kaduna State. The team consisting of nine officers and 71 other ranks from various NSCDC commands, had completed surveillance activities in Shiroro and was en route to their base when they were attacked, the corps spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday evening. The ambush came as the team escorted stranded expatriates…

Genoa have parted ways with coach Alberto Gilardino, appointing former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira as his replacement, it was widely reported on Tuesday. Gilardino, appointed Genoa coach in July 2022, led the team to direct promotion to Serie A in 2023 but departs following a lacklustre start to the current season. Genoa have 10 points from the first 12 games of the campaign and are hovering above the relegation zone in 17th place in the standings. Vieira parted ways with French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg in July, having previously managed Premier League club Crystal Palace and will now take charge…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has approved the immediate payment of N70,000, the new minimum wage for all administration staff. This was contained in a statement signed by the Press Secretary to the Head of the Civil Service of the FCT, Anthony Odeh, and made available to journalists on Tuesday. Recall that President Bola Tinubu, signed the new Minimum Wage Bill into law in May 2024, approving N70,000 as minimum wage for workers, following months of negotiation with organised labour. The FCT Chapters of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress had also threatened…

Two officers attached to the Abia State Police Command, Inspectors Dunna Jatau and Bala Mohammed, were ambushed by armed assailants while on official duty on Sunday night. According to a statement on Monday by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Maureen Chinaka, the officers were attacked by armed men dressed in black attire after dropping off a member of the House of Representatives, Ginger Onwusibe. The statement read, “On 17/11/2024, at about 20:30hrs, two police officers from the Special Protection Unit Base 4, Makurdi—Inspector Dunna Jatau and Inspector Bala Mohammed—assigned to Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, a member of the House of Representatives representing…

Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur has been banned for seven matches after the Uruguayan made a racist remark about South Korean people when talking about teammate Son Heung-min during a television appearance, the Football Association said on Monday. Bentancur had denied the charge, but an independent regulatory commission found it to be proven and imposed the sanctions, which includes a fine of 100,000 pounds ($126,160). The FA said in a statement the midfielder “acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute”. “It was further alleged that this constitutes an “aggravated breach”… as it…

An Officer of Department of State Service, DSS, attached to Kebbi State Command (names witheld), has assaulted a Correspondent of Authority newspaper, Mallam Shuaibu Zubair, when the journalist asked him to pay up his electricity bill. The DSS officer, who got angry because his co-tenants reminded him that he only paid N4,000 out of N5,000 he ought to have paid, suddenly got angry, assaulted Mallam Zubair, who led other tenants to confront him six times and bragged that he could kill Zubair, and nothing would happen. Briefing newsmen about his ordeal, Mallam Zubair explained that the DSS officer, who…

After a nightmare spell at Al Hilal, which has been plagued by injuries, Neymar Jr could be set for a shock move back to Santos – the club where he made his name as a teenager. The former PSG and Barcelona forward, according to prominent journalist Cesar Luis Merlo, has agreed a deal to return home despite having a contract with Saudi club Al Hilal until June 2025. His current club are working on a deal to terminate the rest of his deal, so he can go back to Santos, with the club wanting to announce him after they clinch…

Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk praised opponents Hungary for their decision to play on in their Nations League clash on Saturday after assistant coach Adam Szalai appeared to have suffered a fit on the bench only minutes after kick-off. There was a 13-minute medical delay as Szalai was treated pitch side before being taken to an Amsterdam hospital. The Hungarian federation said he was recovering. He could be seen lying on the floor, next to the team’s bench, with his legs twitching and kicking uncontrollably as staff and substitutes quickly formed a protective barrier around him. “That was quite a…

Prof. Helen Paul, an acclaimed entertainer and educator, has climbed another rung of the success ladder by receiving the renowned Honorary Georgia Citizen Award in the United States of America. The award certificate issued by Brad Raffensperger, Secretary of State of the State of Georgia, reads: “May this outstanding citizen be offered every courtesy as a Goodwill Ambassador from Georgia in her travels to other states, to nations beyond the borders of the United States of America, or wherever she may hereafter travel or reside. Thank you for your service to our state.” A female Senator from Georgia, who presented the award, praised Helen Paul, who had recently completed training as Substitute Teacher, ‘as an asset to the people of Georgia’. She stated, “Everybody is touched by a professor or someone who creates an atmosphere for learning. Thank you so much for being a public servant to a point that you pour out so much to educate people.” Prof Helen, an Independent National Electoral Commission ambassador, earned the award shortly after joining a Nigerian delegation to observe the US presidential election won by former president…